Sunday, January 25, 2015

DAGUPAN CONFERRED SEAL OF CHILD-FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNANCE

DAGUPAN CITY – This city has been conferred with the 2014 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) for its commitment in promoting child rights to survival, development, protection and participation, towards a Child-Friendly Philippines: A Caring and Protective Society For, By, and With the Children.

Signed by Corazon Juliano-Soliman, CWC chairperson and Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and Secretary Mar A. Roxas of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the city received the seal on January 19.

“With or without an award, I am happy that our efforts have earned the attention of the council in protecting the rights of our children in the city especially with our anti-bullying campaign and our health and education program for the children as well,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez disclosed that this year the city will have its own Bahay Pag-Asa which will serve all Children in Crisis (CIC) and a Women Center for mothers.

“And this year, we will focus on giving total protection to the victims of rape and child molestation. That is why, we have been going around visiting the different public schools in the city and make an appeal to the teachers who serve as second parents of the children to be sensitive and to be able to understand the feelings of every child,” Fernandez said.

After winning as the Most Child-Friendly City in Region I, the city is now a national contender to the 2014 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Cities under the independent component city category. Winners are expected to be acknowledged sometime within the first quarter of 2015. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Jan. 21, 2015)